Kirill Tereshin, a 29-year-old Russian MMA fighter who once drew global attention for his exaggeratedly swollen arms, is now confronting the most severe medical crisis of his life: the looming possibility of arm amputation. Tereshin became widely known for injecting petroleum jelly into his biceps in an attempt to resemble the cartoon character Popeye, a fixation that he pursued despite repeated medical warnings.
Over time, the damage caused by these dangerous injections escalated dramatically, leading to severe tissue destruction, systemic health issues and an urgent fight to save his limbs. His case has evolved into one of the most widely cited examples of the extreme risks associated with unsafe body modification practices. The path that brought Kirill Tereshin to this condition began years ago, when he first started experimenting with petroleum jelly injections to enlarge his biceps. What he believed would give him a unique and attention-grabbing appearance instead triggered complex medical complications that have only intensified as the years progressed.
Although he underwent corrective surgery in 2019 to remove hardened petroleum jelly from his arms, the consequences of the earlier injections continued to unfold. Now, with doctors struggling to reverse the extensive tissue damage, the threat of amputation has become dangerously real. His experience highlights the critical health risks associated with introducing non-medical substances into the body, particularly in large volumes.
Extreme Body Modification and the Rise of Synthetic Muscle Culture
Kirill Tereshin’s actions were driven by a desire to achieve massive, cartoonish biceps without undergoing the long and disciplined process required to develop muscle naturally. The pursuit of rapid and dramatic physical transformation has become more visible in recent years, particularly in online communities that promote extreme or artificial body enhancement. These groups often highlight substances such as synthol or similar oil-based products, even though such injections carry significant long-term risks.
In Kirill Tereshin’s case, he went beyond even those controversial methods by injecting pure petroleum jelly, a substance never intended for internal use. Petroleum jelly is formulated solely for external application. When injected into soft tissue, it disrupts blood circulation, triggers chronic inflammation and causes the formation of dense, hardened lumps. Over time, this can lead to tissue necrosis — the death of healthy cells — as oxygen and nutrients fail to reach the affected area. In Tereshin’s situation, doctors discovered that he had injected approximately three litres of petroleum jelly into each arm.
This overwhelming volume saturated his muscle tissue, blocked blood flow and produced widespread internal damage that extended far beyond the skin’s surface. Even after Kirill Tereshin underwent corrective surgery in 2019, the complications continued to develop. Surgeons removed large hardened masses from his arms, but some damage was irreversible, and lingering petroleum jelly continued to affect the surrounding tissues.
According to doctors from Sechenov Moscow State Medical University, the effects of such injections are not confined to the arms alone. Petroleum jelly can travel through the bloodstream and affect vital organs, especially the kidneys, placing additional strain on the body’s natural filtering systems. Medical professionals involved in his treatment noted that Kirill Tereshin may not have fully understood the severity of the harm he inflicted upon himself until the consequences became unavoidable.
#CirculaEnRedes: TenĂa que ser ruso, este es Kirill Tereshin o el popeye ruso – no ver este video si estás comiendo. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/lBjdZN9P61
— Coahuila Noticias (@LuzyverdadCoah) August 11, 2023
Compounding the damage further, Tereshin reportedly injected his arms with a homemade mixture in an attempt to enhance their size beyond what petroleum jelly alone could achieve. This additional substance provided no muscle strength or functional benefit. Instead, it created more swelling and introduced new risks, adding to the structural instability of the already compromised muscle tissue. The combination of injected materials produced a distorted and fragile internal environment in his arms, leaving doctors with limited options to reverse the destruction.
Medical Complications and the Long Road Through Repeated Surgeries
For years, Tereshin attempted to manage his unusual condition while remaining active on social media, where he documented his experiences and occasionally posted updates from hospitals. However, the internal deterioration in his arms has now reached a critical stage. Earlier this year, he revealed that he was preparing to undergo surgery specifically described as an operation “to remove the biceps,” indicating that the accumulated damage had left surgeons with little healthy tissue to preserve.
Photographs shared by Kirill Tereshin showed his arms heavily bandaged as medical teams worked urgently to stabilize his condition. One of the largest challenges doctors now face is cleaning the affected areas thoroughly enough to allow for skin grafts. Skin grafting can only be performed when the underlying tissue is healthy enough to support the transfer of new skin.
In Tereshin’s case, large sections of necrotic tissue must be removed first, creating extensive open areas that place him at high risk of infection. Each procedure becomes a race to prevent bacteria from entering exposed tissue and spreading rapidly. Without prompt and successful grafting, amputation becomes an increasingly likely outcome, as doctors cannot leave large areas of dead or contaminated tissue in place.
Another critical factor influencing Kirill Tereshin’s prognosis is the condition of his circulatory system. Petroleum jelly injections compromise the body’s vascular structures by blocking blood vessels and triggering chronic swelling. Once these circulatory pathways collapse or become obstructed, tissue recovery becomes exceedingly difficult. Any delay in restoring adequate blood flow can worsen necrosis, further narrowing surgical options. Surgeons involved in such cases must balance aggressive tissue removal with the need to preserve as much vascular function as possible, a delicate process that leaves little margin for error.
The long-term use of non-medical fillers also has systemic consequences. Even after the visible lumps are removed, residual effects can persist throughout the body. The kidneys are particularly vulnerable, as they must process the substances absorbed into the bloodstream. Prolonged exposure can impair kidney function, making it more difficult for patients to withstand repeated surgeries or recover from infection. In Kirill Tereshin’s case, doctors have emphasized that the full extent of internal damage may not become clear for some time.
Warnings From Doctors and the Broader Implications for Public Awareness
Medical professionals overseeing Tereshin’s treatment have repeatedly stressed that injecting petroleum jelly or any non-sterile substance into the body is profoundly dangerous. While some individuals may be tempted to mimic viral trends or pursue extreme body modifications for social media attention, cases like Tereshin’s illustrate the potentially irreversible consequences. The body cannot safely absorb or process petroleum jelly, and once it enters muscle tissue, the resulting complications can unfold over months or years, often culminating in emergency surgeries or life-altering outcomes.
Doctors have also noted that public misconceptions about muscle-enhancing injections play a significant role in driving such risky behavior. Many people believe that substances like synthol or other fillers can create a shortcut to physical transformation without proper training. In reality, these substances provide no functional strength and can permanently damage muscle integrity. In more severe cases, they can lead to chronic pain, infections that spread beyond the injection site and, as seen with Tereshin, the potential loss of limbs.
Tereshin’s current medical condition underscores the importance of early intervention and consistent medical monitoring for individuals who undergo any form of body enhancement. Even those who use legally available cosmetic fillers can experience complications if procedures are performed outside of controlled medical environments. When untrained individuals inject themselves with non-medical materials, the risks escalate dramatically. Infection, embolism and irreversible tissue death become far more likely, and the ability of doctors to repair the damage becomes increasingly limited.
For Kirill Tereshin, the focus now is on preserving his arms and preventing further systemic harm. Surgeons continue to work to remove contaminated and necrotic tissue while preparing the damaged areas for potential grafts. The road ahead is long and uncertain, and even if amputation is avoided, he will likely face permanent loss of muscle function and chronic medical needs. His experience stands as a stark reminder of the life-changing consequences that can arise from misusing substances never intended for injection.
His case continues to draw attention online and within medical circles, prompting renewed calls for stronger public education about the dangers of unsafe body modification practices. As doctors work urgently to stabilize his condition and prevent irreversible outcomes, the broader implications of his story remain clear: non-medical injections can have catastrophic effects, and the human body cannot withstand the introduction of substances like petroleum jelly without severe and lasting damage.
QDF? Yeah, I’ve heard good things. Seen some friends playing there and they seem to be having a blast. Might have to jump in myself. You should too – qdf!